Ladybandito

I take chewable prenatal multivitamins ... Easy on the tummy, contain iron, and taste ok. I am well past menopause, lol. I've also seen liquid iron in drugstores...

Bump. For newbies. And everyone.

Very cool!

Bump. Great info.

Sounds like you are well-prepared, and your fear may turn out to just be fear, and not reality. That said, I would keep a Water bottle at all times -- and perhaps take a bite of her Snacks,, if I wanted to do that. Five potato chops are not going to derail you, and may take away the irritability factor, if you do begin to experience that. I went to Disneyland when I was short term post-op, and had the same fear. Turned out to be for naught. I wasted some $ since I ate so little of what I bought, but with the surgery, there just wasn't that "pull" towards the junk and I was able to be happy and still eat right. Enjoy your trip!

Love to you, your brother, and family. I will keep you all in my prayers.

No, not really. But I think I treat myself differently ... And I am much more confident and sociable, so I do notice more positive interactions in that way!

Give it another try over the next week. The reason we all need surgeries (I did not notice which one you chose), is because we need help. It is very important to stay on pre-op and after-op diets -- even more so on the after-op. Only you know if you need some type of therapy before the operation, and if so, maybe you should postpone until you feel more in control. But the surgeries themselves do help give you that control, too. It would be a shame to go through all the surgery and not be able to stick with it, but my experience was that it became much, much easier to do after the operation. Perhaps talk to your surgeon and his team and let them know what happened ... They have probably heard similar before. Until then, gather yourself, do not go on a binge, and think this through!

Btw. I can always eat solids and get liquids down, just clarifying.

My band is tighter today, all on its own, lol! Have a lot going on lately and busy day ahead, so I can feel the difference. I haven't had a fill in a year or over, and it's the reason I keep my band fairly loose on a regular basis. When a family member died, my stress alone tightened me right into no appetite at all --for about a week. If I was already at that point, before the stress, it concerns me that I would have needed an unfill at that point. After about a week I was just normal again (for me). But yes, stress, weather, dehydration, and emotions can all make my band fluctuate. If I'm angry or really sad, I can rally feel it, lol.

I used to wonder the same thing in the beginning; especially water. Now, I drink two 16 oz bottles of water before I leave for work, and before I have breakfast --which is usually a Plain Greek yogurt with chia seeds added. I drink another water before lunch, and focus my lunch on protein content -- chicken breast, turkey, chili w beans and meat, something like that. Then. More water until dinner. I like fish and a vegetable, and a small carb serving. I wait at least an hour and then have decaf tea and more water. I am 2-1/2 years out of surgery, at goal, and probably a little less than green --but I like it that way. On days when I have a hard workout, I will supplement with a protein shake. I also partake now and then in a decaf latte, lol. If you add it up on a calorie counter --the calories add up faster than you think if you count everything you put in your mouth!!

Fear of the surgery itself, fear of complications, fear that I would spend so much and STILL not lose any weight. I also spent over 2 years researching WLS options, and gathered so much conflicting information that I was confused and decided I would try "just one more diet." I did hcg,lost a good amount of weight and then gained it all back again. It was at that point that I made the surgeon consultation appt, and I haven't looked back, since!

Happy Bandiversary, Alex! Thank you so much for all the dedicated work you put into starting and maintaining this forum. I am amazed at how accessible and attentive you are to all the posts and posters. This is a large group of people, yet, with you at the helm it seems very close-knit and personal. I have to say that my lapband success is due in very large part to the information and support provided here. Standing... Clapping.... Hooray, Alex!!!!

Now you've got this, dawalsh! Happy for you!

I love reading your posts, Tomander! Thank you.

Old thread, but pretty funny. I'll add The Beverly Hills Diet, does anybody remember that one? It was like all fruit for a week, in particular order. I stopped when I passed out after 2 weeks on the "diet." I also did the cabbage soup diet, and Medifast and Optifast. The liquid fasts worked great, until I ate solids and gained it all back, and more!

B-52, that's hilarious!! X

Some pointers that helped me through stall times: 1. Increase your Water intake 2. Make sure there are 4-plus hours between eating meals -- 4 hours of only liquids, no "grazing" 3. Increase Protein, lower veggies and carbs. Eat foods you have to "chew" -- and chew well. 4. Get some type of exercise everyday. Walking is great. Resistance bands or weights are great. 5. Avoid "processed" or packaged foods until you are back on track. I really believe the 4-hour timing between meals (even if you are "starving,") is a key point, and I still do this regularly today. At first it seems like you are clocking everything... Water, food, etc ... But you do get used to it. And you will cut through the stall.

Congratulations! Try to relax and focus on the positive. Fear and excitement are closely related, so go more toward the excitement. Tomorrow, you begin a new and worthwhile journey. My recovery was a breeze, and I wish that for you, too!

277 72 my loss 349

Check in, Nicki, when you're feeling up to it!! Hoping that everything went well and you're on the mend. How's the recovery going so far?

Landz, it really depends only on your anatomy. There are a few people in my surgeon's office who have no fill in their bands, and have reached goal. I have about 3.6 or 3.8 (can't remember which), in a 10 cc Allergan band and I am also at goal. The goal is not so much to feel restriction while eating, as it is to feel satisfied after eating much smaller amounts. Right after surgery, I remember feeling like you, but that went away after about 6 weeks for me as the stoma swelling went down with healing.. Then I got a fill. I believe it has much more to do with the nerves the band presses on, than it does with making the stoma hole smaller so that food can't pass through. It is the signal that the nerves send to you brain -- as food passes through and puts pressure on the band -- that makes you feel satisfied. That's how I see it, anyway, and it has worked for me.

Hi JDI, thinking of you ... One day and a wake-up until your fixed up, right?

It's typical for me. I used to love really spicy food; now, my stoma feels irritated when I eat hot stuff, so I really watch it.

Congrats, Leepers! You've got this!!!